CEA appoints its first honorary president

David Bell of JCB becomes first-ever honorary president of the Construction Equipment Association

THE Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has welcomed the appointment of JCB director David Bell as the trade body’s first honorary president.

Mr Bell joined JCB in 1974 as a graduate trainee following an engineering apprenticeship at Rolls Royce in Derby. During his 43-year career with the company he has held a variety of senior roles, including managing director of JCB Sales/Service, JCB Agriculture, and JCB’s Backhoe Loader and Telescopic Handler business units, and group HR director.

He has also been involved with the JCB Academy since its conception and is currently chairman of the governors.

In 2010 Mr Bell became JCB’s chief corporate development officer focusing on growth in Brazil, China and, latterly, Jaipur, in India.

He was also regional chairman for the CBI in the East Midlands and recently stepped down as a national apprentice ambassador.

Commenting on his new role at the CEA, Mr Bell said: ‘The construction equipment industry is vitally important to the UK economy and I strongly believe it has a very bright future.

‘The CEA is the voice of our industry and, having spent my entire working life of more than 40 years working in different roles at JCB, I have a good understanding of the issues that everyone is facing.

‘I’m really looking forward to championing the interests of the industry on behalf of the CEA at the highest level.’

Rob Oliver, chief executive of the CEA, added: ‘David has been a well-known leader in the construction equipment industry for many years. His scope of experience and continuing enthusiasm for our sector is outstanding.

‘I am thrilled that he has agreed to be our figurehead as our first-ever honorary president. We very much look forward to working with him.’